An Amazon data center could have the worst polluting power plant in the country
An Amazon-owned site in Pecos County, Texas, has received a permit allowing its new power plant, intended for a data center, to emit up to 33 million tons of CO2. This plant could become one of the country's largest greenhouse gas producers, raising concerns about Amazon's climate pledges. The power plant will initially operate independently of the state's grid.
Amazon is investing in the construction of a new natural gas-burning power plant in Pecos County, Texas, to supply its new West Texas data center. This plant, known as GW Ranch, has received a permit from the state of Texas allowing for the emission of up to 33 million tons of CO2, a volume potentially exceeding that of the largest coal plant in the US, according to data tracked by Cleanview.
The permit has raised significant environmental concerns, as the plant's potential emissions represent a considerable setback for Amazon's Climate Pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. Amazon spokeswoman Margaret Callahan acknowledged the changing landscape since the pledge was co-founded but reaffirmed the company's commitment. The plant's 35 natural-gas turbines are designed to deliver 7.65 gigawatts of electricity primarily to the data center, initially operating separate from the state’s power grid.
While plants rarely emit the maximum allowed by their permits, the lax restrictions are notable. The development comes as other tech giants like Meta and Google are also building their own power plants, often relying on non-renewable sources to meet the surging energy demands of AI data centers. Previous efforts by the Trump administration to loosen restrictions on such polluting power plants are also highlighted.